The Federal Government has disclosed that only 108 out of about 39,000 underage candidates who sat the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) met the requirements for possible admission into tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while receiving the two highest-scoring UTME candidates and six outstanding underage candidates presented by the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Segun Aina.
Alausa said 2,244,149 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, while 2,174,396 sat the examination. About 39,000 candidates who took the examination were below the minimum admission age of 16.
He explained that underage candidates seeking admission must meet strict academic requirements, including scoring at least 320 out of 400 in the UTME, obtaining a minimum of 80 per cent in post-UTME examinations and achieving at least 80 per cent in their O’Level results in a single sitting.
Candidates are also required to meet the subject requirements for their chosen courses, while combining WAEC and NECO results is not permitted under the stated criteria.
According to the minister, 391 underage candidates scored at least 320 in the UTME, but further screening reduced the number who met all the requirements to 108. The successful candidates also underwent assessments to determine their psychological, emotional and intellectual readiness for higher education.
Alausa said the minimum admission age policy was not designed to deny gifted children access to education but to ensure that younger candidates possess the maturity required for university studies.
Among the candidates recognised were Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, who scored 372, and Enwere Kingsley Ikenna, who scored 370. The eight students received plaques and certificates in recognition of their performance.
The minister congratulated the candidates and urged them to use their academic abilities to develop innovations and solutions to Nigeria’s challenges.
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